Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
North Africa Regional Workshop Opportunities and Challenges of Nutrient Management in North Africa
Marrakech (Morocco), September 11-12, 2013
FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION IN TUNISIA : Constraints, Perspectives and Extension Methodology
TAREK JARRAHI, Med Annabi and Rim Sakouhi National Institute of Field Crops, Tunisia
Tunisia
Situation :North Africa /East
Area :163,610 sq. km
Population :11 millions
Natural resources :Crude oil,
phosphate, iron ore, lead, zinc,
salt
Climatic characteristics of Tunisia
• Mediterranean environment: Hot summers, winter rainfall and mild
winters • Climatic areas:
Humid to arid • Rainfall:
100 mm <R < 1000 mm • Important year-to-year variability
• Average temperature: 17° to 21°C
Agricultural production mainly in semi-
arid to arid areas
(75 % of total area)
Rainfed/Total (1000ha)
Rainfed areas (1000ha)
Irrigated areas (1000ha)
97% 1646 34 Cereals
93% 1835 130 Trees
28% 42 108 Vegetable
92% 285 23 Fodder
The importance of Rainfed agriculture (Data 1993)
Soils of Tunisia
the soils of Tunisia are classified as podzols, vertisoils, red Mediterranean soils, calcic-magnesic soils (dominant soils), brown and isohumic soils, saline and hydromorphic soils and also poorly evolved soils.
Soils nutrient status and agricultural use are related to both the landscape and the
climatic area
Nature of soil Areas (ha) fertile soils ha % of fertile soils
lithosols 2200000 0% Poorly developed soils 2180000 1300000 59,6 calcimagnesic soil 2400000 1050000 43,7 isohumic soil 3000000 1000000 33 vertisols 236000 230000 97,4 Red and chestnut soils 90000 80000 88,8 Salains and waterlogged soils 1500000 150000 10
Total 12200000 3810000 31,2
60% of agricultural land evolve in an arid zone, where the soil is presented in a precarious condition
516.000 farms (87 % less than 20 hectares)
Agriculture plays a key role for the country's economic and social growth
Tunisia Agriculture in brief
Growth Domestic Product (GDP): 13 %
Exportations: an average of 10%
Employment : 22 %
Contribution of 14 % in the investments
Tunisia Agriculture Production
Arable land; 5 M ha; 50%
Rangeland; 4 M ha;
40%
Forests and scrublands; 1M ha; 10%
Arboriculture, 2, 40%
Arable, 2, 40%
Fallow, 0.7, 14%
various crops, 0.3,
6%
Cereals 1.53 M ha (75%)
Olives (1.5 M ha)
10 M ha agricultural area
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
Yiel
d
Yiel
d
Year
Cereal, fruits and vegetable yield
Fruit Vegetables Cereals
Productivity of Tunisian Agriculture
Since the 1980s, Tunisia achieved an increase of 50 % in agricultural production for most major crops
Reasons of Yields Increase
Fertilizer Pest Irrigation
Changes in cultural practices:
Government efforts to expand the area of fruit trees and wheat, which declined by about 15% compared to the 1950s
Improved cultural practices
The improvement in productivity was essentially a result of:
Mechanization Breeding Traditional agricultural practices
Fertilizers have played a key role in improving yield production in Tunisia
0
5
10
15
20
25
0 50 100 150 200
Yiel
d (Q
x/ha
)
Crop Yield and fertilizer consumption relationship
Fertilizer and Crop Production
Fertilizers kinds and amounts: An important input contributing 50% towards improvement in crop productivity
basically three nutrients are supplied: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5) and
potash (K2O)
The main fertilizers used: ammonium nitrate, super phosphates, ammonium phosphate, potassium Nitrate, potassium sulphate
During the past 50 years of the history of fertilizer use in Tunisia
Total fertilizer consumption (N, P2O5 and K2O) in Tunisian agriculture
R² = 0.8605
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160Co
nsum
ptio
n (1
000
t)
change/year: 2,56% change/year: 1,36 % change/year: 0,79 %
we find a considerable increase in the consumption of fertilizers Since 1960, by 7 times till 2013
Fluctuation of the fertilizer consumption level is due mainly to the unpredictable climatic conditions
Production and Distribution Systems
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
AN made-GCT (1000T) AN sold-Tunisia (1000T)DAP made-GCT (1000 T) DAP sold-Tunisia (1000T)
Two actors Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG): responsible for phosphate mining
Chemical group in Tunisia (GCT): Production of mineral fertilizers
Tunisia Country a manufacturer of fertilizers
The annual production of phosphate is currently 8 MT/year
5th in the world
1952: TSP 1979: DAP 1983; AN 6.6 million tons of phosphate for the national market
1.4 million tons for export
Fertilizer manufacturing by GCT and part used in Tunisian agriculture
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Cons
umpt
ion
(100
0 t)
N P2O5 K2O
N: 2,37 %
P: 0,53 %
K: 0 %
N: 1,41 %
P: 0,12 %
K: 0,06 %
N: 1,36 %
P: 2 %
K: 0,08 %
Use by Type of Fertilizer
Agricultural Extension Service (include fertilizer demonstration plots), direct subsidies on fertilizer prices, distribution of fertilizer as seasonal credit and privatizing and liberalizing of the market
The initiation of the GOT's wheat project in 1966 and price controls in 1970 increased availability of fertilizer and agricultural extension activities
Factors Contributing to Growth in Fertilizer Use in Tunisia
Sub humid zone major crops: cereals, citrus,
and grape crops, 65 %
Region I
Semi Arid zone The major growing area are
cereals, 23 %
Region II
Region III
Region V
Irrigated Zone: the major growing area is cereals,
vegetables, 7 %
semi-arid –irrigated zone garden crops and olive
production, 3 %
Major crop activities located in the scattered
oases, 2 %
Fertilizer Sales in Tunisia by Regions
Crop Fertilizer Use in Tunisia
The cereal sector has absorbed More than 95% of fertilizer used
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
160000
180000
200000
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
SUPER 45 (T) Nitrate ammonium (T) DAP (T)
Climatic conditions and fertilizer use
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
Unfavorable season Midium season Favorable season
SUPER 45% DAP AN 33,5%
Farmers are oriented towards to reduce the level of inputs during the beginning of the crop seasons when the weather conditions are unfavorable
The amount fertilizer consumption was mainly affected by climatic conditions The increase in fertilizers consumption was 53 % compared to the unfavorable growing
season Increase in the amount of ammonium nitrate by 73%, while for phosphate fertilizers improvement is about 32%
N/P2O5 ratio evolution in cereal crops in Tunisia
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
Grain yield and production potentials of cereals
14 30
40 11
20
30
Arid Sub humid Irrigated
N Kg/ha AN Kg/ha 49 146
Rainfall conditions: Nearly 97 % of the cultivated area is under rainfed conditions The high price for fertilizer, especially that of locally produced fertilizer; Lack of farmer know-how in using fertilizers – specifically nitrogen; Degraded & poor soils often subjected to runoff and soil erosion Availability of credit in good time Poor transport facilities and road network in rural areas Small & Marginal holdings– difficulty in use of farm machinery Using the manual method in fertilizer application Shortage of labour in dry lands – Migration to commands and urban areas Inadequate extension reach for technology dissemination
Though the above actions have stimulated fertilizer use and increased the demand for fertilizers, especially nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, increased fertilizer consumption is still constrained by several conditions as follows:
Major Constraints
Nutrient Efficiency (%)
Cause of low efficiency
Nitrogen 30-50 Immobilization, volatilization, denitrification, Leaching
Phosphorus 15-20 Fixation in soils CaHPO4
Low nutrient use efficiency
Importance of Integrated Nutrient Management
There is an urgent need to adopt an integrated nutrient supply and management system for promoting efficient and balanced use of plant nutrients.
The main emphasis was given on increasing the proper and balanced used of mineral fertilizers taking into account the production potential
What is Nutrient Management?
Combine on-farm nutrient sources, with commercial fertilizer, to meet crop need.
Commercial fertilizer
On-farm nutrient sources
Soil reserves
Minimize nutrient losses
Nitrogen fertilizer
Will be applied based on the supply balance method that takes into account the nitrogen residue from the previous crop, rate of organic matter and target yield.
Phosphates and Potassium
Based on soil analysis
The total amount of nitrogen will be splited into three applications:
Methodology
Two Nodes (30%)
3 leaf (30%)
End of tillering (40%)
Decision tools
Improving Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiency
Cereal Expert System on the web-site of INGC
www.ingc.com.tn
Integrated fertilizer management for wheat
Study the effects on crop productivity of the integrated fertilizer management compared with the farmers’ practice
Assist farmers to adopt an integrated fertilizer management (IFM) approach for wheat production
Optimize nutrient inputs to wheat production Examine the effect of fertilizer inputs on improving the productivity of wheat Improve the fertility and productivity of wheat soils in the area.
Objectives:
This activity was involved 212 (leaders and satellites fields) at Fernana (Jendouba) and Chebika (Kairouan). These sites have a potential for intensification under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. They are characterized by a very limited use of fertilizers, and these are not always adapted to crop requirements.
Sites:
Case study
Initial soil fertility status of farmers’ fields
9.09
22.73
68.18
21.21 24.24
54.55
4.50
39.40 34.80
21.20
0102030405060708090
100
<7
7-14
> 14
<200
200-
300
>300 <1 1-
2
2-2,
5
<2,5
P2O5 K2O MO %
% o
f fa
rmer
s
22.73 16.67
60.61
16.67
36.36 46.97
37.9
56.1
3.0 3.0 0
102030405060708090
100
<7
7-14
> 14
<200
200-
300
>300 <1 1-
2
2-2,
5
<2,5
P2O5 K2O MO %%
of
farm
ers
Delegation of Fernana Delegation of Chebika
Frequency of soil samples per available phosphorus (P2O5),potassium (K2O) and organic matter (MO %) at Fernana and Chebika
The farming practice and crop rotation
40.9
18.2
31.8
12.1 16.7
68.2
10.6 1.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Fernana Chebika
Freq
uenc
y (%
)
Cereals Fallow Vegetables Legumes
Proportions of prevalent previous crop at Fernana and Chebika
Fertilizer application (Kg/ha)
0
100
200
300
400
500
P2O5 K2O AN P2O5 K2O AN
Farmers Practices (Kg/ha) IFM (Kg/ha)
Fernana Chebika
↘18 % ↘38 %
↗ 36 %
↗ 42 %
2.46
4,21 3.42
5,41
01234567
Fernana Chebika
GY (t
/ha)
Sites
Yield Farmers Yield IFM
Compared grain yield obtained at Chebika and Fernana using integrated fertilizer application (IFM) and common farmers fertiliser applications
Improvement of grain yield represents 28 % and 24 % at both sites.
Therefore; there is a need to adopt the IFM involving soil test based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and to increase productivity. Constraints of adoption of IFM: Low nutrient content and low efficiency of chemical fertilizer
Field days
Field visits & Traveling Workshops
Field Demonstration
Dissemination Tools to improve farmers’ access to technical knowledge
SMS
The number of subscribers in the SMS service reached 1840, including 1260 farms. The total number of SMS sent reached 22080
Adoption of the Short Messaging Service (SMS) technologies as a tool to improve farmers’ and extensionist access to technical knowledge and to increase technology adoption
Research: Development of soil fertility maps (OM,
P2O5 and K20) Remote sensing for Crop Nitrogen
Management Development of Slow Release Fertilizers
R&D Priorities
Development: Strengthening Soil Testing Service Promote farmer capacity to request new
technologies and information. Promote farmer to farmer extension. Push farmers to make their own decisions
R&D Priorities